Santisima Trinidad was
famous as the only four-decker ship of the line ever
built. Her 144 guns and her strong, growing red
color scared away enemy ships who only dared to come
attack her in
pack. This celebrated gigantic first-rate
Spanish ship remained the world's biggest warship during
her long 36 years of service.

In 1779, when Spain
joined France to declared war on England in support of
the American War of Independence, Santisima Trinidad was selected to be the flagship in the Franco-Spanish operations in
the English Channel. One year later, she led the
fleet to capture an English convoy of 51 ships.

In 1797, at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent , Santisima
Trinidad first engaged with the two 74-gun British ships
Culloden and Captain (commanded by Commodore Nelson.)
Unable to sustain the massive Spanish ship's powerful gun
blasts, the two British ships signaled for help.
Santisima Trinidad was then surrounded and
bombarded simultaneously by Blenheim, 90, Orion, 74, Irresistable,
74, and Excellent, 74. Santisima Trinidad fought valiantly until all
masts were collapsed and half of her crew disabled. When
the British tried to capture her, she was saved by the Pelayo, 74 and Principe de Asturias, 112.

Eight years later, Santisima Trinidad took part in the
famous Battle of Trafalgar. The mightiest ship in the world was positioned immediately
ahead of the fleet French flagship Bucentaure.
Determined to bring down the notorious dangerous giant, the
British ships made her a target for concentrated attack.
Almost at the beginning of the battle, Santisima
Trinidad engaged with
Leviatan, 74,
Africa, 64,
Neptune,98, and
Conqueror, 74.

Santisima Trinidad fought valiantly to
tie up four enemy ships for a long time. She
received so much fire on all her bands. And
although all the masts, spars and yards was dismantled,
the gigantic Spanish ship still did not give up.
Her guns continued to roar relentlessly until her
collapsed sails covered and rendered the guns useless.
Until then no enemy ships dared to come close to board
her.

The huge ship remained
without moving. Her crew suffered more than 600 casualties, including
Rear Admiral Cisneros. In the end, she was captured
by the Neptune.

The great Santisima
Trinidad sank in a
storm the day after the battle while being towed by the
Prince to Gibraltar to exhibit as a trophy.